Now
that "convergence," the darling of late '90 corporate speak, hasfallen out of favor on Wall Street, Grazyna Auguscik might
wantto claim it for her own. The Polish-born, Chicago-based Auguscik(pronounced Aw-Goose-Chick) is like a kaleidoscope of styles
andinfluences, variously evoking folk, soul, funk, progressive jazz
andtechno pop. On her new album, River (GMA), , she often
sounds eerilysimilar to early mid-80's one hit wonder Nena Kerner (of "99Luftballons" fame). At other times, particularly on her
fragile coverof Jim Webb's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", there's an oversuggestion of the ethereal Astrud Gilberto. Occasionally, whenshe really cuts loose on such exuberant workouts as "Dancing
All Around,""Never Again," and the soaring, nine-minute title truck, she
conjures otherworldlyimages of Yma Sumac sweating to an Esquivel beat. For the record,
Auguscikalso wrote or co-wrote four of the album's 10 songs, arranged
or co-arrangedall of them, and produced the album. She might also be prescient.Her convergent technique could well foretell the future of jazz
singing.

Born in Poland and currently residing and gigging in Chicago, singerGrazyna Auguscik (pronounced Gra-je-na Aw-Goose-Chick)unveils a strikingly original vocal style on River, her fourth
releaseon GMA Records. Her soft, airy voice bears an intimate, fragilequality on a hauntingly beautiful interpretation of Jim Webb's"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", as well as her vocal abstractions
onthe freewheeling title track and her multi-tracked vocal choir
onthe urgently swinging "Dancing All Around". Accompanied
by some Chicago notables,
including drummers Paul Wertico
and Ernie Adams, bassist Eric Hochberg,
and guitarist John McLean,
the Berklee College of Music grad (1992) interpretstwo Egberto Gismonti compositions ("Cego Aderaldo" and "Aqua
Vinho")and one Kenny Garrett tune ("Sing a Song of Song"). And shejoins troubadour Terry Callier on the album's most affecting
piece,the chimeric "If I Ever Dream Again," which features a beautiful
muted trumpetsolo by bassist Hochberg. Naturally gifted with an inherent sense
of adventure andan inner urge to swing, Ms. Auguscik is a developing talent who
bears watching.

Grazyna Auguscik, "River" (GMA Records).Well, yes, the name is definitely difficult. Born in Poland,
residingin Chicago since 1992 (after attending Berklee College in Boston),Auguscik pronounces her name Gra-je-na Aw-goose-chick. Her singing,
however,is considerably easier to grasp, since she is firmly rooted in
the free-flyingarena of contemporary vocal jazz. Her material ranges from tunes
by Kenny Garrett,Egberto Gismonti and Terry Callier to the Jimmy Webb ballad "The
Moon's a Harsh Mistress"and Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5." Add to that some
Auguscik originalsand interpretations that make stunning use of her lithe, mobile
voice, and the
result is a singer to be watched. Although her cutting-edge musical manner
maynot be to every taste, she--like a number of regional artists--is
doing important work in advancing the potential for
imaginative jazz singing.

The
first "suprise" release of 2002 for me - Grazyna Auguscik. Her newcd is "River" on her own label. Even at a time with so many
female vocalists- I love this record!Contemporary yet very musical. Great version of Kenny Garrett's
"Sing asong of song" - this is the kind of stuff I wish Smooth Jazz
stations were playing!Excellent guitar work from John McLean and David Onderdonk. Nicely
arranged,performed and engineered. She has a beautiful voice, with
some interesting vocalise parts.If you haven't dug this one out of your pile yet,I'd recommend it!

The
artist you are referring to is Grazyna Auguscik. She released thisalbum ("River") on her own label, GMA. You can go to herWeb site: www.grazynaauguscik.com/CDstore.htmlIf you like the track I featured, you will love this album - it'samazing!

Grazyna Auguscik River (GMA)"One of Chicago's hidden treasures, singer Grazyna Auguscik [gra-je-naaw-goose-chick] is a jazz-rooted, genre-blurring provocateur.
Herself-produced album, River, overflows with mysticalambiance and world music accents. A Polish émigré,
Auguscik studied atBoston's Berklee College Of Music before settling in Chicago
seven years ago.Steadily, she has nurtured a serene, mind-waving body of music
influenced by herEastern European background. Opening with a murky ballad entitled"The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress," Auguscik later moves into the
flamenco-inspired"Cego Aderaldo," a wonderfully textured arrangement on which
she scatsto fiery highs and then swoons into deep mood shelters before
repeating the thrill.Her thinning but pronounced accent adds character to this quiet
set, making Auguscik'sRiver a dark, occasionally untamed, and solidly improvisational".

Ah
one day the muse will strike me so you'll yearn to be quoting us in yourreleases. Yep, Grazyna Auguscik's CD "River" is now out and available
hereat KGNU. It's one of those sleepers, it looks simple enough but
strikesa whole different level when you play it.Cheers, E

With
Grazyna Auguscik next with her newest RIVER .I mentioned earlier that she has a similar passion for the musicas Claudia Acuna. A resolve, so pervasive; a pacingback and forth (I can do this) mantra and we feel thiswith Grazyna, as Claudia, as Elis Regina. It's aconquering of a moment's extreme self doubt. AsTecumseh said no when asked to pose for a sketch, oneloses a part of themselves before the audience andthose who give of themselves completely on stage inthe moment earn the endearing gratitude of us all."

Grazyna
has the vocal ability to handle any song well,and she does so with much verve and sensitivity in theseselections when she sings alongside Paulinho Garcia."Fragile and "Bridges" are two of the most beautiful and hauntingballads to appear in recent years, and both songshighlight the vocal talents of Garcia and Auguscik singing duet.These two song interpretations should win awards! Such lyrical
beauty!FRAGILE is a perfect example of contemporary Brazilian jazz at its finest. The singing is crisp,
fresh, innovative.Garcia and Auguscik are the ideal Brazilian singing duo,and FRAGILE captures their sound perfectly!Excellent!

"Grazyna Auguscik displays a strong and affectless voice,unencumbered by such familiar flavorings as ‘sweet’ and ‘salty’.She proves her ability to scat solo with precision and design,
and she emerges as a true bandleader.... She has a rhythmicauthority that provides the steel backbone for all her music.In Auguscik's music, emotion has to share the stage with cool musicianship, rhythmic exactitude, and an analyticalintelligence she applies to the melodies ..."

“Primordial Passage" is a fitting title for this Chicago-basedwriter/producer Robert Grillo. ... Singer Grazyna Auguscik makesthe biggest impact by giving her songs a slight Eastern European feel one moment and a jazzy abstraction
the next.On “Mountain Call,” she chants in a gypsy tongue both mystifyingand alluring, while her voice just as easily transitions to silken scatting on the title track ...”

“The Sacred Spaces Ep” “Deep, humid Chi-town house so balmy and great it
feels likesome opium den haze with a dubby heartbeat of a 4/4 under it.Chantuese Grazyna Auguscik and Robert Grillo are onto something here that their full-length on Peacefrog last year
only hinted at:house with a gauzy, ethereal, netherworldy vibe, Spirit on High”smolders under Auguscik’s vocal, while “On-Nay-Yeh” gets on a
tribal,sandstorm swept caravan of spice traders drunk on red wine.The flip “eau du Vie” is more straight up house, while“Smoke and Mirrors” gets back into the near-Goth hazethat’ll have househeads reaching for their eyelinerand incense. Quietly fantastic.”

“Primordial
Passage....Peace Frog stick their neck out once again by releasing thismesmerizing abd beautiful album from ... Robert Grillo. ClassicChicago flavoured rhythms steeped in more traditional Afropercussion techniques manage to co-exist with the exemplarymusicianship of Robert himself and various guest players, ...{including} Polish jazz singer Grazyna Auguscik. This unusualcombination of themes works best because of the ethereal quality
thatruns like a unifying thread through the whole album. It really
iscompletely engrossing as the tracks evolve around basic grooves
andare allowed to wander and develop into subtle mini symphonies
... Abrave and innovative album that will surely sound as good tomorrowas it does today.Superb."

“The
truly otherworldly Polish jazzvocalist Grazyna Auguscik is also featured prominently, her voicefalling like broken shards into the pool of world music rhythms
andthe often jazzy riffing of the various studio players involved.

“...Sublime
vocalistGrazyna Auguscik lends a steadying exotic croon to the proceedingsthat justifies Grillo’s excessive aesthetic, especially on the
epic, butstill sweaty opener, “Primordial Passage,” which is so good,
you canalmost forgive the cornier world music indulgences in some ofUnderground Evolution’s tracks ...”

The
centerpiece of Primordial Passage is Polish jazz vocalistGrazyna Auguscik’s vocal technique. Although Auguscik’s distinctivevocalizing appears sparingly, it is an integral part of the album’sconcept. Functioning as both rhythm and melody, Auguscik’s sharpand strong alto has the penetrating quality of the best sopranos.
Onthe opening title track, producer and co-writer Robert Grillo
appliesinteresting effects to her voice ... to make Auguscik’s scatting—whichis already fascinatingly polyrhythmic and dense—even more textured.Standout tracks include the housy “Walk on Water,” whose free-jazzimprovisation and pitch changes keep the track moving along........Auguscik's voice, sounding hollow and echoey,as though recorded far away on a hilltop, connectsthe sections of the track into a whole.

This
is not a “put the needle on the record and rock theparty” series of tracks. Instead it is a journey into the minds
andinfluences of both Robert Grillo and his talented singer/songwriterGrazyna Auguscik which is a journey well worth taking.

Grazyna
Auguscik is one of the most unique andcharismatic figures to emerge from the Chicagojazz scene in years. Her prolific career has resulted ina host of self-produced albums of original materialand carefully-chosen covers, while her live showscontinue to leave audiences with a sense of awe andspiritual enlightenment. Grazyna has contributed toContinental Collide, Spirit on High and 7/8,her own composition.

“Corners“ Gephart Long Quartrt"Vocalist Grazyna Auguscik appears on two mellowback-to-back compositions by Long, "La Nuit (for Cyd)"and the title track, "Corners." It's her clear, airypresentations of these richly melodic pieces that remind meof Metheny, for some intangible reason. And one spot -- whereGephart softly doubles her melody to the accompaniment of piano
anda maraca or maybe just a shaker-egg -- stakes a claim asthe album's most sublime passage."